Doug Ford government unveils sweeping new changes to housing rules

The Ford government has unveiled a new omnibus bill focused on streamlining home building and approvals in the province on Wednesday.

The new Cutting Red Tape to Build More Housing Act includes a reduction in the amount of parking developers need to build, special rules to fast-track the construction of student accommodation and a long-awaited use-it-or-lose-it policy.

“These measures recognize the struggles that our municipal partners have faced in building homes and are targeted at removing those obstacles,” said Paul Calandra, minister of municipal affairs and housing.

Speaking to reporters after the new legislation was unveiled, Calandra repeatedly said the law included many “targeted” measures to fix parts of the province’s planning rules.

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles called the new law “weak,” and said it failed to fix the housing crisis. “Again, the Conservatives are refusing to treat Ontario’s housing crisis with the urgency it needs,” Stiles said.

Global's Colin D'Mello has more.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/10414592/ontario-housing-supply-updates/

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